Enzymic microbiological process for producing optically active aminoacids starting from hydantoins and/or racemic carbamoyl derivatives

Abstract

A method is disclosed for producing D-aminoacids from racemic mixtures of N-carbamoyl derivatives of such acids or from the corresponding hydantoins wherein the racemic compounds are subjected to the enzymic and microbiological action of an enzymic complex prepared from microorganisms of the Agrobacterium genus, more particularly the NRRL B 11291 strain.

We claim: 
     
       1. Method for the production of D-aminoacid starting from racemic mixtures of their N-carbamoyl derivatives or from the corresponding hydantoins, characterized in that the reaction is carried out in the pressure of enzymic complexes obtained from a microorganism of the Agrobacterium genus identified by the symbol NRRL B 11291. 
     
     
       2. Method for the preparation of hydantoins according to claim 1 wherein the hydantoin is D,L-5-phenylhydantoin. 
     
     
       3. Method for the preparation of D-aminoacids according to claim 1 wherein the aminoacid is D,L-N-carbamoylphenylglycine. 
     
     
       4. Method for the preparation of hydantoins according to claim 1 wherein the hydantoin is 5-parahydroxy-D,L-phenyl-hydantoin. 
     
     
       5. Method for the preparation of D-aminoacids according to claim 1 wherein the aminoacid is N-carbamoyl-D,L-parahydroxy-phenylglycine. 
     
     
       6. A biologically pure culture of Agrobacterium NRRL B 11291, said culture being capable of producing D-aminoacids from racemic mixtures of their N-carbamoyl derivatives or the corresponding hydantoins.